Chemical agents

ABSTRACT

Novel toxic compounds being useful as chemical warfare agents in various  itions. 
     The compound having the following structure: ##STR1## where n is an integer from 6 to 16 and where X is halide, sulfate, nitrate, hydrogenoxalate or perchlorate forming a stable salt.

This invention relates to the synthesis of new toxic chemical compounds which are useful as chemical warfare agents. More particularly, our invention is concerned with novel compounds produced by quaternizing 2-dimethylaminomethyl-3-dimethylcarbamoxypyridine with ω-halo-alkyl trisubstituted ammonium halide.

The chemical agents of our invention act mostly on the peripheral autonomic cholinergic nervous system which includes the motor nerves, all preganglionic parasympathetic fibers. The transmission of impulses along a nerve or from nerve fibers to muscle fibers or secretory cells, or from one nerve fiber to another across synapses in ganglia is thought to involve chemical changes, either directly or as the source of potential differences. The nerve action current results from a redistribution of diffusible ions between the center of the nerve and the periphery, taking place successively along the nerve fiber. This redistribution of ions may be under the control of chemical agencies. Our chemical agents interfere with the normal process of neuromuscular impulse transmission and thus disrupt the propagation of impulses along the motor nerve fibers entering the muscles. We have also found these compounds to be extremely toxic at relatively low dose levels in various animals.

The object of this invention is to synthesize new lethal agents in substantial yields wherein said products are well suited for industrial scale manufacture.

Other objects of and uses for the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter in the following detailed description thereof.

Our compounds are useful as chemical warfare agents and as a potential otherwise physiologically active materials. They have extremely high lethal activities and a mammalian toxicity magnitude entirely different from other toxic agents.

Our compounds may be utilized in any munition suitable for handling a relatively non-volatile toxic agent such as bombs, shells, spray tanks, rockets, missiles, aerosol generators and others.

In accordance with the invention, a solution of 2-dimethylaminomethyl-3-dimethylcarbamoxypyridine is treated with ω-bromohalo-alkyltrimethylammonium halide in the presence of sodium iodide and acetone. The solution is then refluxed for about two hours. An oily precipitate formed and on cooling to room temperature solidified. The crude product is collected by filtration. The product is recrystallized from acetonitrile-ethyl acetate and dried in vacuo.

The new compounds of the present invention may be represented by the following general formula: ##STR2## Where n is 6 to 16 carbon atoms and where X is one equivalent of a monovalent or polyvalent anion.

The procedure used for the preparation of the new toxic materials is schematically shown as follows: ##STR3## Where n is the same as above, X is a halide radical and X.sup.⊖ is the corresponding halide anion, preferably chlorine or bromine.

In the above reaction, we have found that the incoming haloalkyl trimethylammonium halide adds to the nitrogen atom of the 2-dimethylaminomethyl to the exclusion of the other nitrogen atoms because of the more basic nature of the former. If compounds are desired in which X is other than a halide ion, the above quaternary compounds are treated with the desired acid by a simple exchange reaction as set forth below.

EXAMPLE 1-(N,N-dimethylamino)-10-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethobromide (EA 3966)

A solution of 0.93 g. of 2-dimethylaminomethyl-3-dimethylcarbamoxypyridine, 1.5 g. of 10-bromodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and 10 mg. of sodium iodide in 20 ml. of acetone was refluxed for two hours. An oily precipitate is formed and on cooling to room temperature solidifies. The crude product (1.5 g.) was collected by filtration. The product was recrystallized from acetonitrile and ethylacetate mixture and dried in vacuo at 60° C. for eight hours, the crystalline material (0.6 g.) melted with decomposition at 139°-143° C.

Analysis is Calculated for C₂₄ H₄₆ Br₂ N₄ O₂ ; C, 49.5; H, 8.0; Br, 27.4. Found: C, 49.3; H, 7.8; Br, 27.4.

The compounds which are described below are representative of our invention.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-6-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]hexane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-7-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]heptane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-8-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]octane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-9-[N-(dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]nonane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-10-[N-(dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-11-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl-N-methylamino]hendecane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-12-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl-N-methylamino]dodecane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-13-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl-N-methylamino]tridecane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-14-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]tetradecane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-15-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]pentadecane dimethobromide.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-16-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]hexadecane dimethobromide.

We have shown a preferred compound in which the anion is limited to the halogen moiety, in particular the bromide, since the bromoalkanes are readily available and are good quaternizing agents. In general, however, it is only necessary that the anions merely have to meet the requirement of being capable of forming a stable salt with the quaternary nitrogen. Thus, the halogen ions can be exchanged with other anions of a relatively strong monovalent or polyvalent acids by conventional methods. For example, if X is a bromide in the final product, a solution of the compound can be treated with a basic ion exchange resin or mixed with silver oxide and subsequently the desired acid is added to the quaternary hydroxide solution. In like manner, the sulfate, nitrate, hydrogenoxalate, perchlorate salts may be prepared. Representative examples of these additional monovalent or polyvalent end products are:

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-10-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethosulfate.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-10-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethonitrate.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-10-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethohydrogenoxalate.

1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-10-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethoperchlorate. 

We claim:
 1. A new chemical toxic agent of the formula: ##STR4## wherein n is 6 to 16 carbon atoms and X represents one equivalent of an anion forming a stable salt with the quaternary nitrogen.
 2. The salts of claim 1 wherein X is selected from the group of anions consisting of halide, sulfate, hydrogenoxalate, nitrate, and perchlorate.
 3. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-7-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]heptane dimethobromide.
 4. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-8-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]octane dimethobromide.
 5. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-9-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]nonane dimethobromide.
 6. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-10-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]decane dimethobromide.
 7. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-11-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]hendecane dimethobromide.
 8. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-12-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]dodecane dimethobromide.
 9. The compound 1-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-13-[N-(3-dimethylcarbamoxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamino]tridecane dimethobromide. 